CONSERVATIVE agriculture spokesman Tim Yeo visited to Okehampton on Monday when he met farmers in the West Devon and Torridge constituency.
Mr Yeo met more than 80 farmers at the meeting at Restland, near Belstone — and went away with some food for thought.
James McInnes, of Okehampton NFU, said: 'I think it went quite well. We were quite tough with him.
'We told him exactly how things were and what we wanted.
'I don't think people in high places appreciate the sort of changes that are going to take place. People can't go along losing money year after year without something going bang,' he said.
Mr McInnes said something had to happen to improve farmers' fortunes. 'The Government has separated farming from the rest of the countryside in the public's mind and that has to be stopped because agriculture is the core of the countryside.'
Mr Yeo was accompanied by the constituency's Conservative spokesman, Geoffrey Cox.
The shadow minister had earlier spoken at the Devon NFU's annual open meeting at the Woodbury Park Golf and Country Club.